Nishikita-machi is situated around 2.8km from the hypocenter at a height of 70m above sea level, and this sword-leaf litsea stands in the grounds of a quiet residential area overlooking the commercial district in the north of the city and the Sumiyoshi district.

The Japanese characters for the tree's name mean "fawn's tree," and this name originates from the way that the trunk reveals white patches when the blackish-grey bark peels off in places, dappling it with a pattern similar to the back of a fawn.

Along with the persimmon located at the same private residence this tree witnessed the atomic bomb's heat rays, blast wave and fire damage; while it suffered wounds itself, it recovered and still stands here today.

The tree is in a vigorous state, but there is a hollow in its trunk and partial progressive rotting. It still comes into leaf supported by a reinforcing pole attached as a reservation measure.